Adelbert w



(No Model.)

A. W. GEISEL.

WASH BOARD.

No. 258,405. Patented May 23, 1882.-

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADELBERT \V. GEISEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISS.OURI.

WASH-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,405, dated May 23, 1882.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADELBERT WM. (3131- SEL, of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improved Wash- Board, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wash-boards and the like devices generally used for purposes of-rubbingarticleslikeclothing, 850., in order to cleanse same.

The objects ofmy invention are to provide improvements in the construction of the surface of the wash-board upon which the articles are rubbed, so as to greatly facilitate the operation of washing and achieve a more decisive, effective, and perfect cleansing action. I attain the said objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved wash-board. Fig.2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the zinc face, showing its concavities and their bristles. Fig. 3 isasectional elevation taken on line 3 3 of Fig.2, showing also the wooden back and the wire fastening that secures the bristles in place. Fig. 4 is a similar plan view of a part of the metal face, its concavities, with their bristles spread back to show the position said bristles assume when the rubbing is in an upward direction. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on line 5 5; and Fig. 6 is a portion of the zinc and its concavities, represented in enlarged section.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig. 1, the wash-board proper is constructed the same as usual-that is to say, to consist of the two vertical pieces or legs A A, united to a back-board, B, and having at top the soap-chamber O. D represents the zinc or metal roughened face of the wash-board. As here shown, the sheet of zinc has a series of concavities, d, and the metal portion (1 left around the circular edges forms the roughened or ribbed face upon which the rubbing of the articles can be done. (See figures.) The series of concavities or depressions are in arrangement in horizontal or staggered rows, so that every alternate row occupies a midway position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The concavities d can be punched, stamped,

or otherwise formed in the metal face. Nor need the shape be circular; butitcan be square, diamond, or other shape, and yet have the depression d with its center opening, d and the edges round said opening bent downward, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 6. a

e representsv bristles or brushes, which I combine with the zinc or roughened face of the wash-board. Each concavity has its own brush. Hence the entire arrangement of brushes is also in staggering rows, achieving the greatest frictional area.

The brushes are fastened in place to project from the center of each concavity in manner similar to the fastening of bristles to the back of an ordinary brush. Thus the bunch of bristles is folded U shape and passed through the opening (1 of the concavity, so that the loop of the bristles projects sufficiently below said opening for the passage over the loop of the wiref.

The wood back 13 hasinline with all the openings (1 suitable perforations, f, for the passage and fastening of the wire. The wire fis then passed up through the back B and over the loop of the bristle. Thence said wire is passed down through the same perforation in the back and along same to the next perforation, and up same over the next bristle, and so on until the entire row or rows of bristles are fastened by the rows of wire in manner clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

The rubbing of the article upon the washboard so made is done upon the roughened face of the zinc, specially that portion thereof surrounding or forming the border of each concavity. At same time the rubbing is done upon the bristles. The concavities allow sufficiently the flow of the water and the bristles collect the soap and help form a lather. In using hot water and soap the bristles become suflieiently pliable to not injure the article. By rubbing the article up and down as usual upon the washboard the bristles are caused to bend back or forward, as the case may be, and spread until their points reach the border of the depression, but not over same. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) lVhen so bent back or forward the bristles or brushes, as soon as released, return to their original position, and thus, in both actions, rub,- scrape, and bring friction to bear upon the ar ticle, all of which insures a better, quicker, and easier cleansing or washing. The separate action of all the bristles greatly increases the friction and most effectually insures a removal of dirt or impurities from the clothing, 850., being cleansed. The stalk of each brush whereitpasses through themetal adds strength to the same by afiording it a bearing to resist pressure brought upon the zinc.

What I claim is- In combination with a wash-board, the zinc or metal face D, having the series of concavities cl arranged in staggering rows, the bristles or brushes e,and fastening-wire to operate as and for the purposes set forth.

ADELBERT WM. GEISEL.

Witnesses WILLIAM W. HERTIIEL, J OHN W. HERTHEL. 

